Improvement in bed-bottoms



W. M. WILLOUGHBY.

Bed-Bottom.

. Patented Dec. 17, 1878.

mwwjfor N. PUERS. PEOTo-UTHOGRAPNER. WAS'HINGYDN D c.

TVILLIAM M. XVILLOUGHBY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BED-BOTTOMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 210,980, dated December17, 187B a plication filed February 2, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. WiL- LOUGHBY, of the city ofPhiladelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in the Construction of Spring-Beds, of which the followingis a specification It consists, first, of two or more series of hingedplates, forming chains for the support of the bed-slats, some of saidplates being provided with hooks, to which are attached spiral springs,which form the elastic bearings of the bed-bottom.

It consists, secondly, of certain arms, hereinafter to be described,secured to beams of the bed-bottom, which, in connection with adjustablestraps attached thereto, and to the hooks of the outside plates of thechains, serve to hold the spiral springs to the required tension, and tokeep the bottom steady in its movement.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of mybed-bottom. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is aperspective view, exhibiting the principal features in my device.

Similar reference-letters indicate like parts in all of the figures.

Referring to drawings, A is a beam, which rests upon the rails of abedstead, having attached to it, by screw bolts and nuts I), supports a,which extend upward from said beam, and are connected at the top andintermediately by bars a a These supports are fixed on the ends of eachbeam, to be used in connection with straps, hereinafter to be described.

The slats (l are united and held together by hinged plates D D D towhich they are attached by screws and nuts d. The hinged plates D D Dare formed to fit the one into the other, after the manner of astraphinge, being secured by pins j. The plates 1) have secured to themhooks F, over which may be slipped the upper ends of the spiral springsG. The plates D forming the ends of the chain of hinged plates, areprovided with additional hooks E, over which are secured the straps B.These straps are of leather or other suitable flexible material,provided with ordinary buckles, by which they maybe adjusted.

They are looped to the bar a of the supports a, and bear upon the bar a,to hold the slats in position and increase or decrease the tension ofthe springs G. The springs G, which are made of wire of varyingthickness and strength, to bear a greater or less weight, are coiled indifferent directions alternately, so that in yielding to verticalpressure they may be caused to approach and brace each other, to givefirmness and strength to the structure. Said springs are secured attheir bottoms to the beams A, by staples or other known devices for thepurpose. To prevent clashing together, these springs are stayed bycords, which unite them and prevent their ends from striking together.

The slats in my bed-bottom are not unlike those in general use, andextend at right an gles across the several chains of hinged plates,described, and to which they are attached.

In ordinary spring -beds, the top of the spring, not being properlyfasten ed, frequently becomes loose and tears the mattress. In myimprovement the top spiral of the spring is fastened by a peculiar turnaround the pin of the hinge-joint, and is kept in place by a metal blockfastened by nut and bolt, thereby making it immovable, unless byremoving the metal block which is beveled to hold the pin.

The great objection to the use of springbeds in the past has been thewant of uniformity in the yielding of the slats to the pressure of theweight of the body. here webbing is employed to support the slats andeach slat is nailed to the webbing, the body of the sleeper forces theslats on which it rests downward, leaving the others elevated, cansin ga sensation similar to resting on two rails, which is felt even throughthe mattress. The webbing becomes looser from stretching every day, andfinally breaks, and, besides, becomes a ready breeding-place for vermin.Where the slats are supported by straight pieces running across the bed,the elasticity of the bed is lost, and it becomes stiii and rigid.

In my improvement I place upon each slat a metal joint, with projectingarms or joints, which fit into flanges on the other joint on the nextslat, which are joined by a pin, making thus a connecting hinge-jointbetween each slat, and thereby giving equal tension or elasticity to thewhole surface on which the mattress rests.

What I claim is- 1. In a bed-bottom, the hinged plates D D D providedwith arms extending at right angles to the lines of the chains, to whicharms the slats O are attached, in combination with springs Gr, attachedto hooks F, secured to plates D D as and for the purpose set forth. 2.The plates D, with hooks F attached, in

combination with springs G and beams A as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with beam A, the arms a and adjustable straps B,attached to hooks formed on plates D as and for the purpose set forth. 1

W. M. WILLOUGHBY.

Witnesses:

Ronr. H. HINGKLEY, J12, J 0s. DE F. J UNKIN.

